Biological fuel cell and methods

• US 8,241,797 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heller, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US12/944,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20110117451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 429/465, 429/467, 429/483, 429/507, 429/535, 429/401, 429/531, 156/196, 29/2, 297/46
• US Class Current: 429/401
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell for positioning in a biological system comprising oxygen, comprising:

a substrate comprising a first face and a second face;

an anode disposed on the first face of the substrate, wherein the anode comprises an anode enzyme; and

a cathode disposed on the second face of the substrate,

wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode comprises a mediator chemically bonded to a polymer.

2. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the anode enzyme is a glucose-responsive enzyme.

3. The electrochemical cell according to claim 2, wherein the glucose-responsive enzyme is glucose oxidase or glucose dehydrogenase.

4. The electrochemical cell according to claim 2, wherein the glucose-responsive enzyme further comprises an enzyme cofactor.

5. The electrochemical cell according to claim 4, wherein the enzyme cofactor is pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ).

6. The electrochemical cell according to claim 4, wherein the cathode comprises platinum.

7. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode further comprises a cathode enzyme.

8. The electrochemical cell according to claim 7, wherein the cathode enzyme is laccase or cytochrome C.

9. The electrochemical cell according claim 1, wherein the mediator comprises a transition metal complex.

10. The electrochemical cell according claim 9, wherein the transition metal complex comprises ruthenium or osmium.

11. The electrochemical cell according claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one heterocyclic nitrogen-containing moiety selected from the group consisting of pyridine, imidazole, oxazole, thiazole, pyrazole, and any derivative thereof.

12. The electrochemical cell according claim 11, wherein the polymer comprises at least one heterocyclic nitrogen-containing moiety selected from the group consisting of 2-vinylpyridine, 3-vinylpyridine, 4-vinylpyridine, 1-vinylimidazole, 2-vinylimidazole and 4-vinylimidazole.

13. The electrochemical cell according claim 1, wherein the mediator is covalently bonded to the polymer.

14. The electrochemical cell according claim 13, wherein the mediator forms one or more of carbon-carbon, carbon-nitrogen, or metal-carbon covalent bonds with polymer.

15. The electrochemical cell according claim 13, wherein the mediator is covalently bonded to the polymer through one or more ligands of the mediator.

16. The electrochemical cell according claim 15, wherein the one or more ligands comprises a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic nitrogen-containing moiety.

17. The electrochemical cell according claim 15, wherein one or more ligands of the mediator are substituents of the polymer backbone.

18. The electrochemical cell according claim 1, wherein the polymer is crosslinked.

19. The electrochemical cell according claim 18, wherein the mediator is crosslinked with the polymer.

20. The electrochemical cell according to claim 19, wherein one or more ligands of the mediator are crosslinkers of the polymer.

21. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the polymer forms a coordination complex with the mediator.

22. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the electrochemical cell is configured to be subcutaneously positioned in a subject.

23. The electrochemical cell according to claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a mass transporting limiting membrane disposed over the anode and the cathode.